1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place in a sewing factory in a bad part of East Los Angeles, California. The play is set in present day during the summer and shows a week in the life of five women especially Ana, a young lady preparing to leave for college. The dramatic situation bringing about the vents of the play is that the women are under a lot of pressure to complete a hefty order before the deadline because the future of the factory and their lives depends on it. Secondly, Estela, Ana's sister, has yet to gain permanent status in the country. 2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when the women strip down in the factory and parade around in the fancy outfits. This allows the women to accept themselves and plays up the title that Real Women Have Curves. 3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Ana is now working in the factory and she is writing about the situation she is experiencing along with the other women. Additionally, Ana's fast approaching departure for school forces her to connect with her mother and sister before she leaves. 4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The audience iis trying to find out whether or not the women will fill the order in time and secure their futures, will Estela run into issues with the immigration police as she seeks citizenship, and will Ana warm up to her situation in the factory and bond with the women especially her family members? 5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana begins the play believing that her conflict is with her mother for forcing her to work in the factory; however, as she grows closer with her co-workers she soon starts to adopt the common conflict of the women against the manufacturing company and their threats if they do not meet their deadline. Additionally, Ana is fighting societal standards of beauty and struggling to fit into this cut out of beauty that society cannot break through. However, after the women strip down and accept themselves, they recognize that they are beautiful no matter what size they wear. 6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The first theatrical moment of the play is when the sewing machine blows up; however, when Ana explains to Estella how she irons the dresses Estella begins to see how Ana wishes she could wear a dress as pretty as that and the sisters begin to understand each other. The next theatrical moment is the screaming between Estella and Pancha and Rosali fainting this is when the situation really gets tense for the women. Lastly, of course the stripping down of the women is an important scene because it truly wraps up the themes of the show and how the women have changed because of the experience. 7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The dresses- The dresses serve as an image of what Ana wants to be slim and pretty.
The broken sewing machine- The broken sewing machine serves as an image of the types of odds that the women are working against and their disadvantage as a small factory.
The birthday cake- Estella's cake with the wrong number on it shows that "age is but a number" and despite it the women can find themselves beautiful no matter the number whether that is age, weight, or size. 8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
The themes in the play are the struggle of undocumented workers in America as they seek citizenship, working hard through your situation to achieve a goal, the importance of family through hard times, and self acceptance despite society's views on beauty. 9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Through their handwork and struggle the women become a family that love themselves and each other. Additionally, Ana grows closer to her blood relatives before she leaves for college and they truly gain an understanding of each other.
The play takes place in a sewing factory in a bad part of East Los Angeles, California. The play is set in present day during the summer and shows a week in the life of five women especially Ana, a young lady preparing to leave for college. The dramatic situation bringing about the vents of the play is that the women are under a lot of pressure to complete a hefty order before the deadline because the future of the factory and their lives depends on it. Secondly, Estela, Ana's sister, has yet to gain permanent status in the country.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when the women strip down in the factory and parade around in the fancy outfits. This allows the women to accept themselves and plays up the title that Real Women Have Curves.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Ana is now working in the factory and she is writing about the situation she is experiencing along with the other women. Additionally, Ana's fast approaching departure for school forces her to connect with her mother and sister before she leaves.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The audience iis trying to find out whether or not the women will fill the order in time and secure their futures, will Estela run into issues with the immigration police as she seeks citizenship, and will Ana warm up to her situation in the factory and bond with the women especially her family members?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana begins the play believing that her conflict is with her mother for forcing her to work in the factory; however, as she grows closer with her co-workers she soon starts to adopt the common conflict of the women against the manufacturing company and their threats if they do not meet their deadline. Additionally, Ana is fighting societal standards of beauty and struggling to fit into this cut out of beauty that society cannot break through. However, after the women strip down and accept themselves, they recognize that they are beautiful no matter what size they wear.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The first theatrical moment of the play is when the sewing machine blows up; however, when Ana explains to Estella how she irons the dresses Estella begins to see how Ana wishes she could wear a dress as pretty as that and the sisters begin to understand each other. The next theatrical moment is the screaming between Estella and Pancha and Rosali fainting this is when the situation really gets tense for the women. Lastly, of course the stripping down of the women is an important scene because it truly wraps up the themes of the show and how the women have changed because of the experience.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The dresses- The dresses serve as an image of what Ana wants to be slim and pretty.
The broken sewing machine- The broken sewing machine serves as an image of the types of odds that the women are working against and their disadvantage as a small factory.
The birthday cake- Estella's cake with the wrong number on it shows that "age is but a number" and despite it the women can find themselves beautiful no matter the number whether that is age, weight, or size.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
The themes in the play are the struggle of undocumented workers in America as they seek citizenship, working hard through your situation to achieve a goal, the importance of family through hard times, and self acceptance despite society's views on beauty.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Through their handwork and struggle the women become a family that love themselves and each other. Additionally, Ana grows closer to her blood relatives before she leaves for college and they truly gain an understanding of each other.